Welcome to Barks & Banter
A Haven and Sounding Board for Pet Enthusiasts
Greetings, fellow pet enthusiasts! Welcome to “Barks and Banter,” a new blog dedicated to celebrating the joys, challenges, and heartwarming moments of pet ownership.
As an avid pet lover myself, I’ve embarked (no pun intended) on this blogging adventure with a passion for creatures great and small. A writer by trade, I’ve indulged myself in writing about my favorite topic – dogs and cats. But it’s no fun to write in a vacuum; I’d much prefer to build a community of like-minded pet owners. So, if you love your pets like family, obsess over them, dote on them, and take an embarrassing number of pictures of them each day, you’ve stumbled into the right place.
To be clear, I have no veterinary background. (I wanted to be a vet until I realized at age ten that vets deal with some very sick animals and see some very sad things. Mad respect for vets.) What I do have is years of experience worrying about my own beautiful pet brood, which I’ll highlight here, along with insightful tips I’ve accrued from trusted experts, heartwarming stories, and an occasional airing of frustrations.
A marketing professional by day, I’m awed by the companionship and resilience that dogs embody. Together, let’s celebrate the unconditional love, boundless joy, wagging tails, and soothing purrs our pets provide.
But first, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Nancy Hallahan – if you’re like me, you’re more likely to remember my pet names than my name. I take that as a compliment. I’ve never met a dog or cat I didn’t like, but I’m currently mom to three small, dare-I-say-majestic chihuahua mixes: Eli, a straggly gray Chihuahua and Shih Tzu mix I adopted on a whim more than a decade ago; Alice Mae, an opinionated Chihuahua/Maltese/Shih Tzu mix I picked out of a shelter years ago; and Corey, a tiny, white long-haired Chihuahua I adopted just a month ago to help round out my pet family. I’d be remiss if I didn’t also mention my soulmate dog, a tiny Chihuahua named Quigley I lost suddenly over the holidays. I miss him every day, but I’m thankful for my tiny, furry guardian angel who awaits me at the Rainbow Bridge.
More on each later, but I promise not to make this blog about me – it’s about creating a pet-loving community where pet enthusiasts can commiserate and share the joys of pet parenting.
Thank you for embarking on this with me, and best wishes to you and your wonderful pets.